Peace and Sport launches its #WhiteCard 2025 campaign

Monaco, April 6th 2025, On the occasion of the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace, the Organization Peace and Sport launches the #WhiteCard 2025 campaign. This global movement aims to highlight the role of sport as a vector of peace and social inclusion, with a particular focus on the 460 million children living in conflict zones.

A CALL TO ACTION FOR PEACE THROUGH SPORT

Sport is much more than just a game. It is a catalyst for peace, a tool for education, and a driver of social cohesion. Yet, in many places, especially in conflict-affected areas, sport is often overlooked.

AN ALARMING REALITY: THE IMPACT OF CONFLICTS ON CHILDREN

In 2024, over 460 million children – more than one in six globally – lived in conflict-affected areas. These crisis situations have devastating consequences on their daily lives:

• Restricted access to education: Wars destroy school infrastructure, depriving children of their fundamental right to learn.
• Lack of safe spaces: Without playgrounds or sports activities, children lose essential opportunities for personal and social development.
• A compromised future: Without education and opportunities, these children risk falling into a cycle of violence and social exclusion.

In light of this reality, we must act. Peace Education through sport is essential pillar for building and rebuilding more peaceful communities.

JOIN THE #WHITECARD MOVEMENT!

On the occasion of the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace - celebrated on April 6th  – Peace and Sport encourages you to relay the hashtag #WhiteCard to show support for the 460 million children whose lives are disrupted by conflict. The campaign will showcase numerous mobilizations worldwide, starting from Monaco, where it was launched in the presence of H.S.H. the Prince Albert II of Monaco, and extending to Colombia, Côte d’Ivoire, France—with a strong mobilization from the Ligue de Football Professionnel—Mexico and much more.

This symbolic gesture is a strong message to world leaders: sport must be a priority in educational and peacebuilding policies.

EXAMPLES OF MOBILIZATIONS AROUND THE WORLD

France - Ligue de Football Professionel (LFP)

The LFP is a committed player that deploys impactful CSR initiatives aimed at strengthening the efforts of French professional football in terms of sustainability and inclusion. These initiatives cover a wide range of issues, including child protection, the fight against discrimination, the fight against gender-based and sexual violence, accessibility for people with disabilities, support for the Bleuet de France charity, which helps victims of war and terrorist attacks, the fight against sedentary lifestyles and the ecological transition. All these themes have a clear objective: to build a more harmonious and equitable future for the generations to come.

Taking part in the #WhiteCard campaign is therefore an obvious choice for the LFP, which fully shares the values espoused by Peace and Sport: promoting peace, inclusion and development through sport. Together, we believe in football's ability to bring people together and transmit essential values such as respect, solidarity and dialogue.

Mexico – World Boxing Council (WBC) 

The 2025 “NatClass” initiative, led by the World Boxing Council and supported by H.E. Claudia Sheinbaum, President of Mexico, will bring together over twenty boxing champions, including superstars like Julio Cesar Chavez and Oscar de la Hoya, to host simultaneous boxing classes across all 32 states. The #WhiteCard symbol will unite more than 20,000 people in Mexico city.

CHAMPIONS FOR PEACE, AMBASSADORS OF THE CAMPAIGN

1. Didier Drogba (Football – Ivory Coast) – Vice-President of Peace and Sport – UEFA Champions League Winner
2. Carlos Takam (Boxing – Cameroon/France) – Former World Champion
3. Check Cissé (Taekwondo – Ivory Coast) – Olympic Champion and World Champion
4. Pascal Gentil (Taekwondo – France) – Two-time Olympic Medalist and World Champion
5. Zakia Khudadadi (Taekwondo – Refugee Olympic Team) – First Paralympic Medalist for the Refugee Team
6. Sarah Ourahmoune (Boxing – France) – Olympic Champion
7. Grace Geyoro (Football – France) – Captain of PSG and the French National Team
8. Diana Gandega (Basketball – Mali) – African Champion
9. Mike James (Basketball – Roca Team) – All-time top scorer in Euroleague history – MVP 2024
10. Clarisse Agbegnenou (Judo – France) – Three-time Olympic Champion
11. Siya Kolisi (Rugby – South Africa) – Two-time World Champion
12. Yannick Nyanga (Rugby – France) – European and French Champion
13. Egan Bernal (Cycling – Colombia) – Winner of the Tour de France and Giro d'Italia
14. Paula Radcliffe (Athletics – United Kingdom) – Former Marathon World Record holder

SPORT : A CATALYST FOR PEACE AND EDUCATION

Sport is a great asset for education and is a cost-effective tool. When used by trained educators, it helps instil fundamental values such as respect, discipline, teamwork, and tolerance.

• A powerful educational tool: thanks to flexible approaches adapted to teaching values, such as the methodology developed by Peace and Sport.
• A driver of social cohesion: sport fosters understanding, cooperation, and violence prevention.
• A potential recognized by the United Nations: all member states unanimously acknowledge the key role of sport in education, reconciliation, and conflict prevention.

Yet, countries worldwide invest less than 2% of their educational budgets in sport. This must change. Decision-makers must convert vision into action.